DACA rescinded; now in Congress’ hands

Updated 7:24 pm, Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Photo: Paul J. Richards /AFP /Getty Images

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US Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on September 5, 2017, at the Justice Department in Washington, DC. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday ended an amnesty that protected from deportation 800,000 people brought to the United States illegally as minors. less

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on September 5, 2017, at the Justice Department in Washington, DC. US President Donald Trump on ... more

State Democrats condemned the Trump administration Tuesday for rescinding DACA and leaving it to Congress to legislate relief for 800,000 immigrant dreamers — 8,000 in Connecticut.

“The only good thing to come out of this is it lights a fire under Congress that we need to fix this,’’ said Rep. Elizabeth Esty. “This is going to be a put-up or shut-up moment for my GOP colleagues, who know this is a cruel decision, a ticking time bomb.’’

In rescinding DACA — Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals, promulgated by then President Obama in 2012 — President Trump was appealing to voters who got him elected on a platform in part promising deportation of all undocumented immigrants and construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

But on Tuesday both Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who announced the revocation, pulled their punches ever so slightly.

“I do not favor punishing children, most of whom are now adults, for the actions of their parents,’’ Trump said in a statement. “But we must also recognize that we are a nation of opportunity because we are a nation of laws.’’

Sessions said the Department of Homeland Security would take the time necessary to “wind-down’’ DACA.

Trump said work permits would no longer be issued for dreamers, except those facing ``near-term expiration.’’

Renewals in the pipeline would be processed and current ones would be honored until expiration — a period that could last up to two years.

“In effect, I am not going to just cut DACA off, but rather provide a window of opportunity for Congress to finally act,’’ Trump said.

Later Tuesday, Trump told reporters “I have a love for these people, and hopefully now Congress will be able to help them and do it properly.’’

DACA provided temporary legal status and work permits for youthful immigrants whose parents brought them illegally to the U.S. at a young age. Applicants approved under DACA mostly are in school or working and have not had serious brushes with the law.

“We know that our state stands to benefit from welcoming dreamers, and their talents, to our communities and our workplaces,’’ said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in a statement. “The rollback of DACA would be a disastrous mistake for not only dreamers, but our entire nation.’’

Dreamer supporters include Republicans such as House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who urged understanding of their circumstances, and even President Trump last week told reporters “we love the dreamers.’’

A delegation of about 40 dreamers from Connecticut joined others from around the country in traveling to Washington for a daylong protest.

“I hope Congress will step up and do something, and stop using us as bargaining chips,’’ said Jose Diaz, 24, of New Britain, whose parents brought him illegally from Acapulco, Mexico, when he was 10. “We’re really tired of that.’’

Camilia Bortolleto, a co-organizer of the trip, said she was confident Congress ultimately would act to salvage DACA. “Rescinding DACA is not the end,’’ she said. “It is the beginning of a new fight.’’

In addition to Esty and Malloy, revocation of DACA brought swift condemnation from other Connecticut Democrats.

“Let’s be very blunt: There is no such thing as an orderly wind-down of the DACA program,’’ said Sen. Richard Blumenthal at a news conference in Hartford. “This announcement itself will cause massive uncertainty and chaos (that) will disrupt and derail their lives and it will be self-defeating, even destructive for our economy.”

“The president pardons Sherriff Joe Arpaio, a national shame, while casting out dreamers who wish to succeed as Americans,’’ said Rep. Jim Himes. “This is now a moment of truth for the Congress and its Republican leadership. It must act to right this wrong or give up any claim to moral standing or economic wisdom.’’

Rep. Rosa DeLauro called terminating DACA “mmoral.’’

“DACA is not a free ride, despite the heated rhetoric and misinformation surrounding this issue,’’ DeLauro said in a statement. “Dreamers have followed the rules, gone through the entire application process, and been approved to stay in our nation. We should not betray them by threatening their ability to learn, work, and live in this country.’’

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters a DACA legislative fix would have to be part of an immigration-reform package with money for “border security’’ — a controversial wall that Trump promised to build along the U.S.-Mexico border, with Mexico paying for it.

Sen. Chris Murphy said that linking dreamer protection to a border wall would be “nonsensical.’’

Noting Republicans’ inability to repeal and replace Obamacare on their own, Murphy said: “It’d be a disaster to hold dreamers hostage to the dysfunction of Congress.’’

Trump and Sessions painted a dark picture of DACA recipients. They characterized DACA as fomenting a humanitarian crisis, prompting youthful Central Americans to flood the U.S-Mexico border. Among them were youthful members of criminal gangs such as MS-13.

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But DACA defenders pointed to economic data suggesting dreamers account for significant increases in GDP — $2.9 billion in Connecticut, according to an estimate of the liberal Center for American Progress.